Shepherd Crook Formafantasma, Oltre Terra NAM Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo NO The shepherd's crook is second only to his dog in importance, and crooks, like sheepdogs, have spawned a considerable literature. The function of the crook, having used a dog to gather a flock, is to catch individual sheep, and there are two basic designs: neck-crooks, with a hook commonly made from a sheep's horn large enough to hold an animal's neck, and leg-crooks, commonly made of iron, with a hook no larger than required to encircle a sheep's leg. The exact origin of crooks is not known. Ancient Egyptian illustrations depict what appear to be symbolic crooks and ancient Greek shepherds were known to use a staff and a rudimentary crook. Historically, crooks have been much longer than they are today. A common stance when holding a crook is to lean on it at an angle in front of you with your hands clasped over the head. As well as serving as a tool of trade, a shepherd's stick also makes a statement about the person who possesses it. In recent years, 'stick dressing' has become a widespread hobby among shepherds in which elaborately carved heads are exhibited at agricultural shows. Sources: 1 - Micheal L. Ryder, “Sheep and man”, Duckworth (1983) Images: 1 - Unknown artist, “The Bishop's Crosier”, Skoklosters Slott Museum (13th century) 2 - Unknown maker, “Crook”, University of Reading 3 - Micheal L. Ryder, “Sheep and man”, Duckworth (1983) #formafantasma #oltreterra #NAMoslo #nasjonalmuseet #design #research #shepherd #crook @nasjonalmuseet